Self-employment grant for the self-employed

Are you self-employed? Has your work ability declined significantly due to a medical condition or disability? Kela’s self-employment grant can help you start a new business or continue a business you already run.

What is a self-employment grant?

If Kela grants you a self-employment grant, you get a reasonable amount of money that is necessary to help you buy work equipment or machinery. Kela can grant you a self-employment grant as a form of vocational rehabilitation.

The self-employment grant can help you

• start a new business
• continue a business you already run
• make changes to your business that are necessary due to your health.

Can you get a self-employment grant?

You can get a self-employment grant for example in the following situations:

• you cannot continue operating in your industry due to your health without making changes to your business
• your self-employment supports your work ability and allows you to earn a living or prevents you from becoming unfit for work
• you are able to continue your business despite your medical condition or disability your business is profitable and you have good operating potential.

How much is the grant?

The maximum amount you can get as a self-employment grant is EUR 17,000. The grant covers up to 80% of the costs approved by Kela. This means that you must be able to cover at least 20% of the costs yourself. Kela calculates the amount of the grant based on the offers and receipts you get for the products or tools you need to buy for your business.

The self-employment grant is not taxable income. This means that you do not have to pay taxes on it.

When is a self-employment grant not available?

You cannot get a self-employment grant for

• paid employment outside your own business
• a business you run as a hobby
• the running costs of your business, such as rent, insurance, electricity, marketing or phone costs
• acquiring business premises.

How to apply

If you want to apply for a self-employment grant as a form of vocational rehabilitation, you must submit the following supporting documents with your application:

• a medical statement B (B-lausunto) from a doctor or some other kind of medical documentation that has the same information as a medical statement B
• a business plan with a profitability calculation and cash flow statement included
• if you are applying for the grant to start a new business, you also need a statement on the profitability and operating potential of your business from an expert (for example an Enterprise Agency)
• a copy of the articles of association or memorandum of association, if your business is a general partnership, a limited partnership or a limited liability company.

Do as follows once you have the supporting documents you need:

1. Fill in the application form for the self-employment grant KU 105 (in Finnish, PDF).

   • Save the blank form to your device. Do not fill in the form directly in the browser because some of the information may not be saved that way.
   • Open the form with Adobe Reader and fill it in.
   • Save the completed application form on your device. Note that the application must be in PDF format.
2. Send the application in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish).

   • Log in to OmaKela and select Tee hakemus (Submit an application).
   • First select Sairastaminen ja kuntoutus (Sickness and rehabilitation). Then select Kuntoutus – tee hakemus (Rehabilitation – Submit an application). Finally, select Elinkeinotuki (Self-employment grant).
   • If you send your application in OmaKela, you do not need to sign it.
3. If you have supporting documents, send them via OmaKela after you have submitted your application. If they are paper documents, you can photograph them.

   • Send us a copy of your medical statement B or other medical documentation and your business plan as supporting documents with your application.
   • If you are applying for the self-employment grant to start a business, send us a copy of the expert statement on the profitability and operating potential of your business as a supporting document with your application.
   • If your business is a general partnership, limited partnership or a limited liability company, send us a copy of your articles of association or memorandum of association as a supporting document with your application.
4. Visit OmaKela to see if Kela has made a decision on your application. If you cannot use OmaKela, mail your application to Kela. Save the form to your device and fill it in after saving it. Print out the completed form and send it and any supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.

If you cannot use OmaKela, mail your application to Kela. Save the form to your device and fill it in after saving it. Print out the completed form and send it and any supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.